The Heartland Association of Realtors will be working with the City of Bangs and the Bangs Municipal Development District to develop a growth and development plan for the city.  The first meeting will be held this Saturday, November 19.  Members of the Heartland Association of Realtors will meet with representatives from City Hall and the BMDD to discuss “a vision statement and rough strategic plan for the community,” according to Laura Tilley, CEO of Heartland Realtors.  The goal is to create a “smart and sustainable community.”

The presentation from the realtors will explain the top causes of fiscal imbalance in municipalities, land use models, and about the economic potential in data-driven community planning.  A variety of interactive activities will help to imagine the city as it could be and create a vision statement.  From that statement, short- and long-term strategic plans utilizing smart growth principles will begin to be developed.

Heartland Realtors was recently awarded a $3000 grant from the National Association of Realtors Smart Growth Program to support activities that create and expand smart growth development.  Rodney Martin, President of Heartland Realtors, commented “Realtors build communities and work hard to make the American Dream a reality for millions of Americans each year.  This grant will help raise awareness about the concept of smart growth in Bangs, TX, while supporting our fight to encourage development that fits the Smart Growth model.  Because of the Smart Growth Grant, development in our area will follow a model that encourages a variety of housing types in a mixed-use development setting where a variety of travel modes are available.”